Well, isn't this depressing?

A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder.

Bentall RP.

Department of Clinical Psychology, Liverpool University.

Abstract

It is proposed that happiness be classified as a psychiatric disorder and be included in future editions of the major diagnostic manuals under the new name: major affective disorder, pleasant type. In a review of the relevant literature it is shown that happiness is statistically abnormal, consists of a discrete cluster of symptoms, is associated with a range of cognitive abnormalities, and probably reflects the abnormal functioning of the central nervous system. One possible objection to this proposal remains--that happiness is not negatively valued. However, this objection is dismissed as scientifically irrelevant.


This is just sad. My goal in life has always been to be happy. Is my goal now a sickness? 

The World According to Concrete

"The World According to Concrete" is a compilation of the most prominent work by Concrete Architectural Associates. This book is definitely going on my wish list for this Christmas. They do so many interesting things as a firm; architecture, interior design, landscapping, installations etc. I was first introduced to them through a friend who showed me the interior design of the Mazzo restaurant in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

 This project is considerable tame in comparison to some of their other ones, but still so clean and well put together.

Other stuff by them:

Sleep...how I wish I got more of it.

Finding a post like this only 5 minutes into starting my CAD work for the night clearly is a sign that I should just drop it and sleep, like I desperately want to.

Making Future Magic - Dentsu London

Dentsu London is a creative communications agency. Some really creative stuff I've seen by them are the "Making Future Magic" exploration into using the iPad and 3D Animation to create stop action films:



Making Future Magic: iPad light painting from Dentsu London on Vimeo.

Another interesting thing, that I found after looking into them more was Sound Sculptures. Considerably more "hand-on" effort but also very interesting and beautiful:


Canon Pixma: Bringing colour to life from Dentsu London on Vimeo.

Parataxic Distortion (aka. Projecting)

Parataxic distortion is a psychiatric term first used by Harry S. Sullivan to explain the inclination to skew perceptions of others based on fantasy. The "distortion" is in the perception of others, based not on actual experience with the individual but from a projected fantasy personality. For example: when one falls in love they can create an image of the person as the “perfect match” or “soul mate” only to find out later the person did not match the original perception. The fantasy personality is created in part from experience and from emotional stress. The stress of forming a new relationship or finding a life mate, where one contemplates reproduction, can be seen as stress, although it is perceived as pleasurable. “Falling in love” can create the atmosphere where parataxic distortion is primarily involved in the perception of the object of affection. It is possible in these situations chemical influence play a role in the “falling in love” process. This could explain why divorce rates are high in the short term.

Cool huh? Found on Wiki :P

Human Dummy - Vventriloquist Act

I donno what it is about this, I think its the guy he chose from the audience, but still, its just so funny. 
And so unique. Why haven't anyone else thought of this? It's awesome :)

CIRCULARES, DILATACIONES Y CONFLUENCIAS.

I have no idea how to describe these works. They are just cool.

By Nadir Figueroa Mena. Check out more works and showings :)

More of Toronto (Downtown by &Co)

Sweeny Sterling Finlayson &Co. Architects, more commonly called &Co have a cureent project in Toronto of  a 11 story condo project called "Downtown" at Wellington and Portland St.

 Check out more of &Co here :)

Hewitt Ave House by Altius Architecture

A new residential house to take notice of in Toronto. Makes me smile to know that even my city, which doesnt hold all that much interest to me cause I live here, can have interesting things once in a while.

Check out the specifics of the Hewitt Ave House here!

Paper into Architecture - Polish Pavilion for Expo 2010

Polish Pavilion for Expo 2010 designed by Wojciech Kakowski, Natalia Paszkowska, and Marcin Mostafa. The Polish pavilion is based on traditional folk art cut-outs of Poland. The "paper cut-out" inspiratoin has been translated literally into the design: the outer envelope of the building is actually a kind of incised wrapper, capable of unfolding to form a flat surface again.

Bella Sky Hotel

Bella Sky Hotel is designed by 3XN, and currently under construction in Copenhagen, Denmark. Visually the hotel will be characterized by the two leaning towers, creating a  unspoiled view over the surrounding meadows, the sea, and the Copenhagen skyline.
The two towers incline 15 degrees, amounting to a 20 meter slope difference between the ground and top floor.

Overall, a pretty cool place to spend a night or two :)

Knobs

Walking around Toronto, I found a couple interesting doorways. Going to look for more. Let me know if you have any suggestions :)

A fish and chips place on King St.

"Yak Yaks" a stand-up comedy place on Queen St.

FJMT and BVN

One of my friends went to work at a architecture firm this last summer in Sydney, Australia. Coming back he had a lot of things to share and show me. One of them being the Surry Hills Library, Sydney by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp or FJMT.

Another intresting one, for its use of colour in sun shading is Bendigo Headquarters, Melbourne by BVN Architects.

Rainbow in Your Hand

I don't remember when or how exactly I found this little amazing book, but I've had it bookmarked on my computer for a while now. It's still blows my mind as much today as the first time I saw it.

This book started as a personal project of Masashi Kawamura, a Japanese designer in summer 2007, and was soon published from a Japanese bookstore "Utrecht". It's a flipbook, but rather than seeing animation, it creates a 3D rainbow in your hand. It won the NY ADC silver cube. 

Masashi Kawamura is a worthwhile designer to look into. He has more book designs, as well as industrial products, prints, commercials etc. Very entertaining :)

Vik Prjonsdottir - Beard Cap

I think this picture says it all. But just in case you want more;check out the designers Vik Prjonsdottir. They have some VERY interesting things to offer :)

Kipling West

Kipling West is a artist of extraordinary talent. I love how her work seems to grab you and suck you in until you think you've discovered all the details embedded into every drawing.

Kipling West's Website has her official works. And her Blog is a neat place to keep up with her current projects. Check it out.

Zeppachino

Online catalog distilled beverages. Over 866 to pick from.
I'm amazed at how many I have never seen or heard of before. The future look like a fun place ;)

Like this one for example! I want to try it for the sake of keeping the bottle!
Zeppachino is a pretty fun site to browse when you find yourself bored, or craving a drink, or both :P

SHELFARI - Online Bookshelf

If you haven't heard/seen Shelfari before...yet you are a big reader, this its a good advestment of time to set up a "shelf". Shelfari is basically an opportunity to keep track of the books you've read, plan to read, and/or want. It creates a shelf where you can add books too, change their cover/edition to match the one you have at home, and review them. I'm always using it to get gift ideas for my book-loving friends.

Check out MY SHELF :)

Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis: Opportunistic Architecture

Really useful book. In comparison to most Architecture books, this one actually shows process, partis and other such useful ideas, other then just building pictures :P

I bought it through Amazon. It wasn't even that expensive for something of this quality :)

LATERAL OFFICE

LATERAL OFFICE: Mason White + Lola Sheppard
This is a Toronto firm that dabbles in a lot of things. I particularly like their landscape designs and installations.

Toronto's LATERAL OFFICE proposed "IceLink: Occupying the Temporal Seam." in their submission to the recent competition to design a Bridge across the Bering Strait 

"VELoops is a network of loops, knots and nodes that accommodate the multiple scales at which urban infrastructure operates: the street, the neighborhood and the city or district. As routes interest each other a local hub emerges; As loops intersect existing transit, a multi-modal bike loft emerges."

 They are also behind the InfraNet Lab blog. Which is pretty neat :)